TNT CALLS ITS FIRST NIGHT AT THE FIGHTS AN "EXPERIMENT"

TNT will televise three world title fights live from
The Theater at MSG on "Title Night on TNT," a live boxing
card on September 22. The event marks TNT's first entry
into boxing, which will be produced by Turner Sports, MSG
and Cedric Kushner Productions (Turner Sports). Kushner
will receive "only $200,000" from TNT for the show. Turner
Sports Senior VP/Programming Kevin O'Malley said that TNT is
"not looking at a regular weekly or even monthly boxing
series," but rather "special events" four to six times a
year (Michael Katz, N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/7). O'Malley
characterized the event as an "experiment." DAILY VARIETY's
Rich Katz writes that TNT's move to boxing "is a surprise"
because Time Warner Vice Chair/TNT Founder Ted Turner "is an
outspoken critic of boxing." O'Malley said that Turner
Sports decided to enter boxing "because the cable net's
wrestling ratings are so strong and sister web HBO had
encouraged either TNT or TBS to televise the sport" (DAILY
VARIETY, 8/7). The event "will be promoted heavily to TNT's
pro wrestling audience" (Scott Hettrick, HOLLYWOOD REPORTER,
8/7). NEWSDAY's Steve Zipay reports, "Insiders say a second
TNT event could be scheduled for December, and the chance of
TNT Tuesday night telecasts replacing USA's boxing series
next year are 'better than 50-50'" (NEWSDAY, 8/7).